Sweeping the floors will simply move the hair around. While classic in style, advanced technology has improved the functionality of upright vacuums. Look for an upright vacuum with flexible features, especially if you want a lightweight option. Multi-functional brush rolls are ideal for homes with both carpet and hardwood floor covers. Canister vacuums are lightweight and portable, making it easy to move from room to room when cleaning hardwood floors.
Most brands include an extendable wand for those hard-to-reach areas. Removable, bagless canisters are also better for cleaning once the floor has been vacuumed. A range of functions, such as a pet brush, allow you to clean up hair efficiently while protecting your floors against scratches. Cordless vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters are ideal for homes with multiple levels and stairs. They are designed to have powerful suction and come with a range of attachments to make cleaning hardwood floors a breeze.
HEPA filtration helps to attract allergens while releasing cleaner air. Let Us Help You! Floors finished with wax, Monocoat, or oil should only be cleaned using products recommended by manufacturers. For other floors, dish soap also works well as a floor cleaner when added to water and sprayed onto the floor while mopping with a microfiber mop. If your floor is extra dirty or needs to be disinfected, you can enlist the power of a floor cleaner.
There are so many products on the market that promise to deliver a sparkling like-new floors, but which one is the best cleaner for hardwood floors? There are some general guidelines you should always follow when choosing a hardwood floor cleaner. The most important is that it needs to be pH-neutral and designed specifically for urethane-finished hardwood floors. This is where it really pays to read the label because some products labeled as safe for hardwoods are not.
If your floors are finished with wax, oil, or Monocoat, avoid using water. Manufacturers make their own cleaners for these finishes, which should only be used as directed.
Some folks swear by diluting a couple drops of dish soap in water for use as a floor cleaner. This is a cheap, eco-friendly, and effective alternative to store-bought cleaners. With this method, make sure that you remove any soapy residue from the floor with a clean damp mop before it dries. Distilled water is always the safest bet. Hard water from wells, chlorinated city water, or tap water treated with softeners can cause mineral deposits and discoloration that is difficult if not impossible to remove without completely refinishing your hardwood floor.
Later, we will discuss what not to use. Furniture coasters only cost a few bucks and allow you to easily move heavy furniture pieces without much help while protecting your hardwood from scratches and gouges. In a pinch, you can even use a heavy-duty blanket. If you are ever unsure, consult your flooring manufacturer for recommended cleaning products and methods.
There seems to be a lot of confusion on what kinds of products, particularly store-bought, are safe to use. Using an inappropriate cleaning solution on your hardwood can be devastating and expensive.
These can leave an impossible-to-clean residue that turns milky white, discoloration, delamination, wood splitting, and bubbles or ripples in the finish. Speaking of scrubbing, you never want to use a scrub brush , Brillo pad, or steel wool to clean your finished floor. This is practically like taking sandpaper to your hardwood. Another frequently-seen floor cleaning faux pas is the amount of water that is used when mopping the floor.
The floor should dry quickly. Your mop bucket should be reserved for rinsing your mop head and cleaning your vinyl plank and other waterproof flooring in your house. Despite what the appliance companies would have you believe, you should never use a steam mop on a hardwood floor. The pictures on the company websites and boxes of these gadgets often feature a person cleaning and happily ruining their hardwood floors with this expensive appliance.
The intense heat drives the moisture deep into the wood and causes irreparable damage. After just one or two cleanings with a steam mop, planks can shrink or swell, buckle, splinter, delaminate, and look aged well beyond their years. To test this, drip a small amount of water on your floor. If it beads up right away, the seal is likely still intact and. If the water seeps into your wood or runs without beading, your floors need to be resealed.
Be wary, though — hardwood manufacturers recommend against using steam cleaners without exception. If you go down this road, keep a close eye on any moisture left behind from your steam mop. Put simply, trust your gut — if things look too wet, abort. Be wary of any topically applied product that claims to refinish or rejuvenate your floor. At the best, these products might leave you with a short-lived polished look that will wear off in a few washes.
While there are a variety of finishes, Manfredini recommends the satin option. It is just as simple to remove stains —but it does also depend on the state of your floor finish. First apply the solution with a sponge or cloth on the stain. From there, use a toothbrush or sponge to scrub the stain, and then rinse the area with water. Polishing and waxing can also add some shine and help minimize the scratches that could occur on your hardwood floors.
To do this, Gagliardi says you will need to pick a product that is specifically made for hardwood. Next, simply follow the steps as outlined above on how to clean hardwood floors and then polish following the manufacturer's instructions. How to Clean Hardwood Floors. By Nashia Baker December 28, Damp-mop the floor, being careful to prevent standing water on the floor.
If the cleaning product requires it, rinse the surface with a clean mop dampened in clean water. Wipe up excess liquid immediately because standing water can damage wood surfaces. If the weather is humid, operate a ceiling fan or the air-conditioner to speed up drying.
If cleaning isn't cutting it, you might need to refinish the wood floors to help them look new. If you're unsure about the best hardwood floor cleaner for your home, talk to your flooring manufacturer. They can often recommend a specific cleaner to use for their product. But if your flooring isn't new, or you can't consult the manufacturer, pick a product that is specifically made for cleaning wood floors. Don't use vinyl or tile floor cleaners as these products might damage, rather than clean, wood floors.
If you're concerned about using harsh chemicals, look for hardwood floor cleaners that are Greenguard Gold certified , which means they're safe to use in homes with kids and pets.
Otherwise, try the natural route with a homemade cleaning solution for your floors. To clean wood floors naturally, use a common kitchen staple: vinegar. Learning how to clean hardwood floors with vinegar will save you money on top of providing a safe cleaning method for your floors. Follow the tips for how to clean hardwood floors with a mop, above, to prevent water damage. Then use vinegar to naturally clean the rest of your home! Editor's Note: Vinegar can dull certain hardwood flooring finishes, so always test your solution in an inconspicuous spot before using the ingredient to clean your floors.
Consider your flooring's finish before trying to remove a stain from wood floors. If the stain is on the surface, your floor probably has a hard finish, such as urethane. If the finish stain has penetrated through to the wood, the floor probably has a soft oiled finish, common in older homes whose floors have not been refinished and resealed.
For floors with a hard finish, wipe surface stains with a soft, clean cloth. Vacuum with a soft floor nozzle; carpet beaters and brush rolls can damage the finish. Lift off dust and pet hair with a microfiber mop head, ideally treated with a positive electric charge so it can capture negative-ion ephemera. Keep the mop head moving, again with the grain.
Use a damp-mop with a flat-head mop and microfiber pad or a microfiber string mop that has been thoroughly wrung out when it looks dingy. Move with the grain, and control the amount of cleaning solution by using a spray bottle, aiming for a heavy mist or gentle squirt of about a half teaspoon per 2 square feet.
No need to rinse. No need to buff either, but cloth diapers and soft socks do work well here. Did an ice cube just shoot under the table? Go get it. You can damage the finish by attacking with a broom meant for the garage or a floor-cleaning machine designed for tougher flooring. Avoid applying the wrong cleaning product.
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